Chapter 3: The Black Door
517 Words
The palace shook again.
Dust fell from the high ceiling.
The nobles screamed.
The servants ran in every direction.
Only the Twelve Divine Princes remained calm.
Prince Zepharion stepped in front of Nysera before she even realized she was in danger.
A huge piece of crystal fell from the ceiling.
It crashed to the floor where she had been standing only a second before.
Nysera stared at him.
"You..."
His golden eyes met hers.
"Stay behind me."
His voice was cold.
Calm.
But something in it made her feel safe.
For the first time in years...
Someone was protecting her.
Suddenly, a deep horn echoed through the palace.
One blast.
Then another.
The sound meant only one thing.
Danger.
The Imperial Guards rushed into the hall with their swords drawn.
Their captain fell to one knee before the Emperor.
"Your Majesty!"
"The Black Door has opened!"
The hall became silent.
Even the princes looked surprised.
The Emperor slowly stood from his throne.
"That is impossible."
"It has been sealed for five thousand years."
The captain lowered his head.
"My men saw it with their own eyes."
"It is open."
Nysera looked around.
Nobody spoke.
She quietly whispered to another servant,
"What is the Black Door?"
The servant's face turned pale.
"It is forbidden."
"They say a monster sleeps behind it."
Before Nysera could ask another question...
A loud roar shook the palace.
It was not human.
It was not an animal.
It sounded old.
Older than the empire itself.
Far below the palace...
In the deepest underground temple...
A pair of glowing crimson eyes opened in the darkness.
Chains as thick as trees began to crack.
One...
Then another.
A low laugh echoed through the empty chamber.
"So..."
"The gods are afraid again."
Back in the throne hall, Prince Kaelor crossed his arms with a grin.
"Well..."
"This festival just became interesting."
Zepharion did not smile.
His eyes were fixed on Nysera.
"The seal did not break by itself."
Kaelor looked at her too.
"You think she caused it?"
"I don't know."
"But she is connected to it."
Nysera heard every word.
"I didn't do anything," she said, her voice shaking.
"I don't even know what's happening."
Before anyone could answer...
The palace doors burst open.
A young messenger stumbled inside, covered in blood.
He could barely breathe.
"The western gate..."
He coughed.
"They're here."
The Emperor's voice became sharp.
"Who?"
The messenger looked up with fear in his eyes.
"The Shadow Clan."
"They have come for..."
His eyes slowly turned toward Nysera.
"...the girl."
The entire hall fell silent.
Nysera's heart pounded.
She had never seen those warriors before.
She didn't know who they were.
She didn't know why they wanted her.
But one thing was clear.
Her quiet life had just ended.
Outside the palace walls, hundreds of riders dressed in black armor surrounded the ancient city.
At the front of the army sat a tall man on a massive black wolf.
He smiled as he looked at the palace.
"Find the Thirteenth Heir."
"Alive."
"If anyone stands in your way..."
"Leave no one alive."
- Writer
